Page 109 of Stirring Up Love
A deep voice came from off screen, and Alisha waved a hand. “Be right there, my love.”Ick.“I get that. But you didn’t want the deal anyway, right?”
Simone shook her head.
“So, deal aside, what hurts is that he doesn’t trust you.”
Simone nodded.
“Well, have you given him a reason to?”
Had she? She’d stuck by his side during his sickness. Veered from her careful schedule for him. Told him things she hadn’t shared with anyone else. But when asked point blank about their relationship, she’d denied having any feelings for him.
“Holy crap.” Once they got into town, she’d distanced herself, wary of anyone finding out she had feelings for the man she’d been sparring with for months. And then belittled him—to her grandpa, no less. Anyone would’ve been doubtful. And given Finn’s history ... “Ali, what do I do?”
Alisha choked on her mouthful of pastry. “Wait, are you asking me for advice?” She looked over her shoulder. “You do realize this is Alisha. Your big sister—”
“This reaction makes me want to take it back.”
“No, don’t do that!” Alisha dove off the bed, and she cringed, waiting for the thump. But a second later she reappeared with a crumpled piece of paper, speckled with something dark. Probably vanilla extract, knowing her sister.
She was almost scared to ask. “What is that?”
“It’s the speech I carry around in case this ever happened,” Alisha said, like that was perfectly reasonable.
“Whatever happened?”
“In case you fell in love, silly.” The words should’ve made her angry, but all she felt was a weird sort of jumpy sensation in her belly.In case you fell in love.
Alisha unfolded the paper. “Simone, baby sister, little menace—”
“You’re the menace,” she interrupted.
“Hush and let me finish. You asked for this,” Alisha said.
Eh, she’d asked for advice, not a full-blown speech, but she was in no position to be choosy.
“From the top: Simone, baby sister, little menace, I love you.” She raised her eyes to Simone’s, then went back to reading. “If you’re hearing this, it’s because you finally took down some of your walls and fell in love. I’m probably ninety and forgetful, which is why I decided to write it down.”
“Accurate, since you’ve acted like a grandma all your life.”
Her sister shot her a quick glare. “But now that you’ve let a man into your life, you might be regretting it. You probably think it makes you weak, which it doesn’t, and vulnerable, which it most certainly does.”
Well, that was the opposite of comforting.
“But being vulnerable is important, because only when we’re vulnerable can we see there are people worthy of our hearts, people who crave the chance to love us and be loved in return.”
But she still had so much to prove. So far to go before she’d reach a point where she felt like a success. How could Finn love a work in progress? How could anyone?
Then again, she loved Honey and Hickory, even though the decor was a hodgepodge of decades and the coleslaw was subpar. Imperfect. Great in some areas, lacking in others. Yet she loved the restaurant just the same.
Finn wasn’t perfect either. He’d misjudged her and stormed off and cost her a chance at working with two of her favorite entrepreneurs.
But she loved him. Completely.
Alisha put the paper down. “If you love Finn, then find a way to show him. And if he doesn’t feel the same way, then I’ll help you pick up the pieces, and I promise, you’ll be okay.”
She would. She loved Finn, but losing him for good wouldn’t destroy her. Didn’t mean she wanted to test that theory, though.
“I mean it, Sim. If you put yourself out there and it all goes south, I’m on the next plane home.”
